Besides wanting to travel to different countries, I really can’t think of ANY examples. I mean anything. But I don’t want to turn this week’s post into a travel wishlist. This book made me want to see London. This book made me want to see Paris. Anyway, that’s not really true. Because I’ve wanted to travel to these places BEFORE I read the books. So I would just be making stuff up.

And then I thought, well what if I reversed the concept? I did this thing and in turn it made me read this book? But I’m not having that much luck with that approach either. Everything I can think of is non-fiction and again the list feels bo-ring.

So you know what? I’m just going to go for it and make this a fun, ridiculous list this week.

I’m glad to see that The Doctor approves.

My Top Ten Fantastical (But Still Somewhat True) Book Inspirations

Book that made me want to live in a house with secret passages. (Or at least a hidden room!) The Hidden Staircase, by Carolyn Keene. (Oh come on, this blog is CALLED Hidden Staircase. You walked right into that one.)

Book that has me waiting for my letter inviting me to attend a school for Witchcraft and Wizardry, preferably in Britain.Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stoneby JK Rowling. Haven’t received my owl yet, but I’m sure it will be here any day.

Book that has me wishing I could be in high school all over again. Double Love by Francine Pascal. Psych! As if! Sweet Valley High with the Wakefield twins and all their rich buddies would probably be a nightmare. Especially for this band geek.

Book that makes me wish I could sit and read all day.Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch. Ms. Sankovitch had this wish too. As a wife and mother, she didn’t have quite the time she thought she would for her magical year of reading. But she managed to squeeze in reading her book a day PLUS writing the review. And feed her children. An inspiration to us all.

Book that makes me believe in True Love.The Princess Brideby William Goldman. Not even death can stop it.

Book that makes me want to hang out at the funeral home.Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich. My absolute favorite Stephanie Plum outing; who wouldn’t want to spend time with Grandma Mazur and eat free cookies?

Book that makes me NEVER want to stay at The Stanley Hotel. EVER.The Shining by Stephen King. This one is absolutely 100% true. I’ve visited, but there is no way I would spend the night in this place.

Book that makes me wonder why is a raven like a writing-desk? Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I keep asking this at tea parties, but no one has the answer.

Too silly? Not enough silliness? Did anyone else have trouble this week, or was it just me? (Probably just me.) What has a book inspired you to do? Comment below, and link up to your own TTT if you’ve got one!

I really think there should be a penalty for building a house and NOT putting a secret something in it. I get that money could be a concern but seriously – make a secret cabinet or something! That’s pretty much the only reason I will ever build a house (well have one built). I also have to admit that Jenny Lawson has made me obsessed with taxidermy which is sentence I never thought I’d say!

I just love Jenny Lawson. She is so funny. I re-read the Beyonce blog post again today and it made me laugh just as much as the first time. Although I can’t get on-board with the taxidermy. Dead animals staring at me feels creepy. 🙂

Fun fun take on this week’s topic!!! Yes to a vampire boyfriend. I hate to say it was Twilight for me but yes for Carry On as well. Jenny Lawson has also inspired some weird stuff for me like wanting a stuffed raccoon like on the cover of her book 🙂

This list! I love it! Like you, I loved the giant metal chicken in “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened,” but my best friend (a zookeeper) was more intrigued by the taxidermied animals and she actually posted a picture of a necklace made out of a metal bow with a taxidermied mouse head in the center and asked if anyone would like to get it for her birthday (half-seriously, I think!).

You are so right about the Stephanie Plum books. I have absolutely no desire to go to hang out at a funeral home — or visit Trenton, New Jersey, for that matter — but she makes it sound so gosh darn fun! 😉 Same with having a vampire boyfriend. It really does sound great in theory, but I just about had a panic attack when I had to get a blood test a couple weeks ago, so I’m thinking it’s probably a no in real-life.

I’ve been waiting for my Hogwarts acceptance letter too; I think our owls must have gotten delayed somewhere. Maybe we’ll be sorted together! What house do you expect to be in? I’m going to be in Ravenclaw! (P.S. I saw your above comment about The Wizarding World of HP and I can vouch that it was AMAZING! We went in February, and one of these days I’ll write up a post about it with tons of photos.)